Shopping for summer footwear is always a tricky task, even more so when you have fallen arches. The best sandals for flat feet will support the arch area and prevent foot fatigue. Ideally, they will have a dense midsole and padded footbed.
While often painless, flat feet can cause discomfort and fatigue. What’s more, it leaves you prone to ankle injuries because there is no arch to keep your foot from rolling inwards.
With that said, most sandals don’t have enough support to wear with flat feet. So we have researched the best sandals and reviewed each pair. This guide takes the guesswork out of shopping sandals for flat feet and tells you all you need to know.
Can Flat Feet Cause Pain and Discomfort?
Pes planus is the medical term for having flat feet, which is a common affliction. Flat feet won’t necessarily cause discomfort, but it can create issues in your knees and ankles. Additionally, flat feet alter the alignment of your legs, which leads to pain and injuries.
For some people, flat feet cause pain in the heel and arch areas. Often the pain worsens with activity and can prompt your ankles to swell.
Having a higher arch protects the soft tissues in the foot and keeps your legs and feet from feeling fatigued. Furthermore, flat feet raise the risk of rolling your ankle because of the limited support to the ankle bone.
Flat feet cause many issues which include:
- Bunions
- Shin splints
- Injuries
- Leg, foot, and ankle pain
- Alignment issues
How To Choose The Best Sandals For Flat Feet
Finding summer shoes for flat feet is a tricky task because so many have no support, but certain factors make them more appropriate.
Arch Support
When you have fallen arches, wearing sandals with arch support is essential. Because of the unsupported ankle bone, wearing unsupportive sandals increases your chance of getting hurt and makes your feet ache.
Wearing sandals with a lifted arch will support and protect your feet, which is why it’s best to avoid flat shoes. A perfect pair will lessen the pressure on other parts of your foot like the heel and ligaments by giving you that support in the arches your foot is missing. Having an anatomical footbed that contours to the shape of your feet are ideal, especially when combined with an EVA-cushioned midsole.
EVA is an excellent material because it isn’t too soft that it negates the supportive qualities. Instead, it gives the right amount of firmness without feeling too hard underneath your arch. Your shoes mustn’t be too hard because this will make your feet ache after an hour of walking or standing.
Stability
Having flat feet puts added strain on your ankles, but stability shoes can help with this. If your feet tend to roll inwards and lean on your ankles, extra stability will prevent pain and keep you from getting injured.
Most people with flat feet tend to overpronate, and this leads to injuries in the ankle because of the extra pressure in the area. The best way to tell if you pronate is to check the sole of your favorite shoes; if it’s more worn on the inside, it means your foot rolls excessively inwards.
Orthopedics
Orthopedic sandals have unique design features that improve your feet, especially if you have a fallen arch. These shoes have added support and keep your foot stabilized to keep it from rolling inwards. Additionally, orthopedic sandals fit custom orthotics so you can use medical inserts if you have them.
Overall, orthopedic shoes have a better design than your everyday pairs. They have multiple aspects that conjoin to make your entire foot feel its best.
Comfort
Walking with flat feet gets tiring and uncomfortable because of the lack of support to the arch and ankle bone. Because of this, you want sandals that are the most comfortable, one’s with adequate padding.
Choose summer footwear with a firm midsole and cushioned footbed. This way, you get the much-needed support and enough padding to keep your feet from aching.
The key to finding the right kind of padding is to look for something that isn’t too spongy but has some rigidity to give you some much-needed stability and relief.
The Best Materials To Look For In Sandals For Flat Feet
You want sandals with quality materials that are going to give your foot some added structure. Ones that are too soft, like certain foams, won’t be ideal because they’re too weak for someone with flat arches.
One example of an excellent foam is EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate). This material has a ‘rubber-like’ consistency that retains its structure well without being too soft to hold up the arch. It’s also quite comfortable to walk on and cushions the arch area nicely.
Leather is always a great choice because it has rigidity without being too stiff. This material lets your feet move freely but holds them in place without distorting over time. Another quality choice would be memory foam, especially for the footbed. Memory foam keeps its shape amazingly well and cradles your whole foot. If you have hot feet, air-cooled memory foam is more breathable and prevents overheating.
These are some of the best materials to look for in sandals for flat feet:
- Gel-cushioning
- Memory Foam
- EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate)
- Leather
- Synthetics
- Rubber
Reviews: Best Sandals For Flat Feet
Crocs Unisex-Adult Classic Clog|Comfortable Slip-on Casual Water Shoe - Unisex Sandals For Flat Feet
You can’t mention shoes for flat feet without Crocs Classic Clog coming to mind. These classic best-sellers offer the kind of cushioning you want with flat feet, while the Iconic Crocs Comfort technology makes them ideal for all types of activities.
This summer shoe is a unisex option that comes in a ton of colorways to suit any style. Its Croslite foam footbed cradles the delicate arch area for whole foot comfort and all-day wearability.
Top Features:
- Iconic Crocs Comfort
- Croslite Foam Footbed
- Rear Heel Strap
- Unisex
- Tons of Colorways
REEF Men's Fanning Flip Flop - Comfortable Running Shoes
Inspired by pro surfer, Mick Fanning, Reef Fanning flip-flops offer the kind of comfort you need to overcome flat feet. This pair has a contoured injection-molded EVA footbed that combines with anatomical arch support for unbeatable comfort.
These flip-flops have a full 360-degree heel airbag that supports the rear of the foot and prevents discomfort. A truly unique feature of Fanning sandals is the bottle opener in the footbed. It’s perfect for days and nights spent at the beach.
Top Features:
- 360-degree Heel Airbag
- Contoured EVA Footbed
- Anatomical Arch Support
- Inspired by Pro Surfer Mick Fanning
- Built-in Bottle Opener
Teva Men's M Hurricane Xlt2 Sport Sandal - Men's Sport Sandals For Flat Feet
The Hurricane XLT2 from Teva is a sporty sandal that has the arch support you need for flat feet. It is water-friendly and quick-drying, so it’s an excellent choice for beach days or trail hiking.
This pair is popular with people who have flatter arches because of its EVA midsole and well-cushioned footbed. Overall, it comes highly rated thanks to its rounded toe and secure hook-and-loop closures.
Top Features:
- Hook-and-Loop Closure
- EVA Midsole
- Rubber Sole
- Round Toe
- Water-resistant
Rockport Women's Ramona Flat Sandal - Comfortable Women's Sandals
Rockport Cobb Hill Ramona sandals are the perfect combination of style and comfort. They come complete with an anatomically molded EVA footbed and 3/4-inch platform that makes them an excellent choice for flat feet.
These summer shoes come in four colorways, which include black, bronze, pewter, and boysenberry. They have a unique and strappy appearance that looks great with any summer outfit and offers the kind of arch support needed when your arch is flat.
Top Features:
- Anatomical Footbed
- 1″ Heel
- 3/4″ Platform
- Rubber Sole
- Four Colorways
Sanuk Women's Yoga Sling 2 Sandal - Casual Sandals For Women With Flat Feet
Sanuk Yoga Sling 2 sandals offer an innovative Yoga mat footbed. If you’ve ever used one, you know how comfortable a Yoga mat is, so imagine walking around on one all day. Stretchy fabric straps and a wrapped toe post make these summer shoes even more appealing and ensure the perfect fit every time.
Yoga Sling 2 sandals have a spongy rubber sole that gives you better traction and a low 1/2-inch platform. If you suffer from flat feet, this pair will alleviate your discomfort and prevent foot fatigue.
Top Features:
- Yoga Mat Footbed
- Stretch Fabric Straps
- Wrapped Toe Post
- Machine Washable
- Spongy Rubber Sole
KEEN Men's Newport H2 Sandal - Men's Athletic Sandals
The Newport H2 from Keen is an athletic sandal with more. It has a metatomical footbed that hugs the contours of your foot and supports the delicate arch area. The secure-fit strap design ensures your shoes stay put and won’t slip while you’re on the go.
Keen’s Newport H2 is a classic must-have for men who lead an active lifestyle. It has a rubber sole for added grip and a compression-molded EVA midsole for greater comfort. Built-in Cleansport NXT technology keeps your feet fresh by naturally controlling odors, making this the perfect choice for warm weather.
Top Features:
- Metatomical Footbed
- EVA Midsole
- Rubber Tractioned Sole
- Cleansport NXT Technology
- Secure Strap System
Skechers Men's Louden Sandal - Men's Trail Sandals
Skechers Louden sandals are ideal for men with flat feet because they have many design features that improve symptoms from this infliction.
Its gel-infused footbed gives you more rebound from every step and lessens the shock of impact. Secondly, a molded Dual-Lite base material provides rigid, yet comfortable padding for better stability. While lastly, an air-cooled memory foam material provides more pressure relief, while giving you instant comfort and cooling.
Top Features:
- Air-cooled Memory Foam
- Dual-Lite Base
- Gel-Infused Footbed
- High Rebound
- Athletic Men’s Sandal
Crocs Sexi Flips | Sandals for Women - Fashionable Flip-Flops
Sexi flip-flops from Crocs are a stylish choice for women with flat feet. They have a barely-there look and trendy t-strap design that is perfect for evenings out.
These sandals have an innovative design, which includes Iconic Crocs Comfort technology to stabilize and support the foot. The Croslite foam footbed provides 360-degree comfort, while circulation nubs give you a massage while you walk.
Top Features:
- Massaging Nubs
- Croslite foam
- Iconic Crocs Comfort
- Italian Design
- T-Strap Style
Which Brands Makes The Best Sandals With Arch Support?
While many brands manufacture summer footwear, not all of them create sandals with enough support. Luckily, some brands know how to produce shoes with proper arch support and soft cushioning, which is still rigid.
Shopping trusted brands means peace of mind in the quality of your sandals. They use higher quality materials and subject each pair to rigorous testing to ensure they meet industry standards.
The following brands are among the most trusted by people with flat feet:
- Keen
- Teva
- Nike
- Rockport
- Vionic
- Crocs
- Skechers
Final Thoughts
When it comes to choosing sandals for flat feet, don’t be discouraged by the many unsupportive pairs. The main feature you want is extra arch support because flat feet don’t have enough lift to protect the ankle and heel areas. Without that support, it leaves the other parts of your foot vulnerable to many conditions.
Sandals are always tricky to shop when you have fallen arches because they don’t usually have the design features you need. Luckily many designers consider these needs, which reflects in the quality of their summer footwear.
Index Table: Best Sandals For Flat Feet
